My Inspirations: #6 Dead Poets Society

 

I don't think that this film's message would have been nearly as effective if Robin Williams weren't the one delivering it. He's always been the funny guy; his part in this film certainly has wit to him, but what he has to say is no joke. Looking at the world from a new point of view. Thinking for yourself. Embracing autonomy. I know that the parents in this movie think that they have their child's best interests in mind, but they show it in a very totalitarian way. They don't even give consideration to what their sons might want out of life, so they force feed them their own views. There is a time for following your authority's lead, but it isn't all the time. This film shows that there is joy in learning, that it's ok to discover who you are and what you want out of life, that art and beauty are not wastes of time. Sometimes you do need to question those who are in authority over you. Don't blindly accept what they require of you. Ask questions. I think that this way of thinking is even applicable to a relationship with God. Inquire about your faith, whatever it may be, because if you don't ask questions and you can't even begin to answer, do you really own it, or is it the faith of someone else?